Facile synthesis and low concentration tylosin adsorption performance of chitosan/cellulose nanocomposite microspheres.

•Combined cellulose, chitosan and filler to create the efficient adsorbents.•The CCM-AC displayed high adsorption efficiency and capacity of tylosin from water.•The adsorption rate of tylosin on CCM-AC was affected by the size-exclusion effect.•The adsorption effect was best under neutral conditions.•Three possible mechanisms were suggested to describe tylosin adsorption.